Thanks to Game Informer and Go Nintendo, there are new tidbits about Warren Spector’s upcoming game Epic Mickey. Among the bullet points are some incredibly creepy (read: awesome) details I want to highlight.
The first is that Osward will be somewhat of a tragic villain. Because he was discarded by Disney, his ultimate aim is to be loved again. To recreate Mickey’s ‘perfect’ life (which he covets) Oswald has the Mad Doctor create animatronic versions of Donald and Goofy. Creepy.
The main force of evil in the game appears to be the Phantom Blot, who has been transformed from a dopey man in a black bed sheet to a spectral demon. While earlier reports suggested Oswald was the main antagonist and employed the Blot as his henchman, Warren Spector made comments suggesting they’re actually enemies and the Blot’s victories have forced Oswald into hiding.
Another interesting tidbit is that the world of discarded cartoons is a warped version of Disney World. At one point in the game, players will visit the It’s a Small World ride. Except, you’ll be running through gears and guts of the ride and the song will be ‘eerie.’ I’m sold.
Mickey’s primary tool is the paintbrush, which he uses to defeat enemies and progress through levels. However, it will be up to the player whether to exercise restraint and take the hero’s path or become a chaotic and destructive force. Mickey’s appearance will change based on your play style. I wonder what physical changes the murderous Mickey will undergo.
Finally, Spector refers to the game’s art style as ‘the bastard child of Tim Burton and Disney,’ which suggests macabre visuals with a colorful hue. Sounds like the steampunk concept art released earlier is here to stay.
Epic Mickey is shaping up to be a really neat juxtaposition of styles, like a Silent Hill-esque Disney adventure. It remains to be seen whether the gameplay will be strong enough to match the ambitions of the storytelling. Nevertheless, that Disney is allowing such a drastic re-envisioning of their most iconic character when they’ve always been super protective of their brand speaks to the confidence they have in this game. Plus, they have Warren Spector working on the game. The guy has one of the most impressive resumes in the games industry, having been responsible for classics like Wing Commander, Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief, Deus Ex, etc.
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